Adjustable dunnage apparatus



Nov. 20, 1951 E. DONNELLEY 2,575,7571

ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS Filed Dec. l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV-20, 1951 E. DoNNl-:LLEY

ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l, 1948 Nov.20, 1951 E. DONNELLEY ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Dec. l, 1948 b b M l l l l l l l l l l L.|

K el? Zai c? Nov. 20, 1951 E. DONNELLEY 2,575,751

ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS Filed Dec. l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4OOOGOOOOOO y? ozvzezls Nov. 20, 1951 E. DoNNr-:LLEY

ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. l, 1948Patented Nov. 20, 1951 ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS Elliott Donnelley,Chicago, Ill., assigner to- R. R.

Donnelly t` Sons, `a corporation. of Illinois.

Application December 1, 1948, Serial No.762g926 22Claims. (Cl.105-369)members areA retained in position against the walls of the carprincipally by endwise thrust of main braces disposed therebetween.

A further object is to provide dunnage apparatus in which cross-arms maybe readily dis posed between adjacent main braces so as to give lateralstability to a load.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment and analternative embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the preferred form of the invention installedin a railway box car, the top of the car being removed for clarityof'illustration; Fig. 2 is a section taken as indicated at 2--2 of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a main brace partly insection; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a cross-arm;Fig. 5 is a section taken as indicated at 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig; 6 is afragmentary plan view of a main brace with the flanking cross braces inposition; Fig. '7 is a section taken as indicated at 1*7 of Fig. 6; Fig.8 is a section taken as indicated at 8-8 of Fig. '7; Fig. 9 is afragmentary perspective view of one end of a box car illustrating amodified form of the in.

vention; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan View of the modied form ofsupporting member and main brace; and Fig. 11 is a section taken` asindicated at II-I I of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the invention isillustrated as applied to a box car, indicated generally at I5 andconsists of three principal elements-supporting members A, main bracesB, and cross-arms C.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 6 to 8, inclusive, each supporting member Ain the preferred embodiment comprises a main plate IB which is ofsufficient length to extend from the floor to the top of the normalloading Zone of -a box car, said plate being provided on its rearsurface with a `plurality of short, spaced teeth I'I to engage the wallof the car and resist lateral displacement of the supporting member.Welded to the front of the main plate and extending the length thereofare a pair of spaced angle irons I8 provided along their projectingedges With a series of registering pairs or hook-like serrations I9.With respect to the body of the box car, therefore, the serrations faceinwardly. A few holes 2|! extend through the` angle irons and main plateto accommodate nails 2I by which the supporting member A may be lightlysecured to a wall of the box carl The supportingmembersare ordinarilydisposed in opposed pairs as seen in Fig. 1, and the nails 2i areemployedonl'y for a temporary mounting while the main braces B are beingput into place, the principali retaining means for the supportingmembers being the endwise thrust ofY the main braces as will be morefully explainedhereafter.

As best seen in Fig; 3, each main brace B comprises a rectangular metaltube 22 which has an extension member 23 telescopically mounted in eachof its ends. Preferably the main braces are fabricated from extrudedaluminum or magnesium, to minimize` deadweigh-tl Inasmuchas the twoendsof a main brace are identical, only one-halfof such arbrace isillustrated in detail and will be described.

Since the supporting members areheld in place principally by the thrustof the main braces, the latter must be extensible, and readily retainedin any predetermined position. To this end, the inner end of theextensionmember 23 is provided with an adjusting head 24 held in placeby a plurality of set screws 24a. A center bore in the adjusting head 24carries a threaded insert 25 which has an annular flange 26 by which itis fastened to the adjusting head 24 by means of a plurality of screws21, the flange also serving to confine a compression spring 28 whichsurrounds the threaded insert 25. Thus, the threaded insert 25 may beadjusted longitudinally of the main brace by proper setting of thescrews 2l, and is maintained against displacement by the thrust of thespring 28.

A cross head 29 in the tube has at its center a bearing 39 through whichis passed a rotatable shaft 3I having a thread Sla at its outerextremity so as to engage 'the threaded insert 25 of theadjustingmember. The cross head 29 also serves as a stop to limit the retractionof the extension member 23; A bearing block 32 isr mounted at the middleof the tube 22 and is provided with lateral bearings 33 and 34 for thethreaded shafts 3l and also with a center Well 35 to receive a crankshaft 36 which has its upper end rotatably carried in a flanged well 3"Vvided adjacent its lower end with a bevel gear 39 which meshes withbevel gears 40 on the threaded sharts 3| so that rotation of the crankshaft 36 will cause extension or retraction of the telescopmg extensionmembers 23.

As best seen in rigs. b to inclusive, the main braces B are provided attheir ends with a plurality of spaced projecting pins 4I which arepositioned to rest in the hook-like serrations I9 of the supportingmembers A. Since the main braces B must be set snugly against theadjoining portions of a'load, they must be laterally adjustable over asmall area. Accordingly, each end of.

a main brace is provided with av threaded bore 42 through which extendsa threaded screw 43 having a peripherally grooved collar 44 adjacent oneor' its ends, the collar being an appropriate width to engage the anglemember I8 immediately adjacent the hook-like serration I9 into which thethreaded screw 43 fits. The end 43a of the screw 43 is square toaccommodate a crank by which the screw may be manipulated. rlhus, themain braces may be laterally adjusted with respect to the angle membersI8; and in order that such adjustment may be readily made even when themain braces are thrusting against the supporting members A, the ends ofthe main braces are provided with rollers 45 mounted on verticalspindles 45 in such a fashion that the rollers project from the ends ofthe main braces and form the thrust element thereof.

The cross-arms C extend between adjacent main braces B and accordinglythe main braces are constructed toaccommodate the cross-arms and toretain them against displacement longitudinally of the brace.Ordinarily, proper bracing of a load in a box car or truck will requirea cross-arm at each side of the load and one substantially in thecenter. Accordingly, the tubes 22 of the main braces are provided at thecenter and adjacent each lend of the sidewalls with a series of spacedapertures 41, and the extension members 23 are provided with slots 48which register with the end series of apertures 4l.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, a cross-arm C is formed from arectangular tubular member 49 having a central cross head 50 from eachside of which projects a tubular spring guide A thrust element 52 istelescopically mounted in each end of the tube 49 and has its outer endclosed by a headed plug 53 which serves as a seat for a spring well 54.The inner end of the spring well 54 is supported in an annular plug 55at the inner end of the thrust element 52.

The telescoping elements of a cross-arm LC are Vretained againstaccidental separation by a long screw 56 which extends through anapertured plug 5l in the end of the spring guide 5|. The head of thescrew 56 seats on the plug 57 while the threaded end 58 thereof screwsinto an appropriately located socket in the headed plug 53 of theextension member 52 and is retained by a lock nut 59. A compressionspring 60 has one of its ends abutting against the cross-head 5|) andhas its other end abutting against the top surface of the headed plug53, the body of the spring being carried on the spring guide 5| and inthe spring well 54. A suitable spring will be of sufcient strength torequire approximately lbs. compressive force in order to retract thethrust members 52 in the tubular member 49. The end of each cross-arm isprovided with a pair of spaced projecting pins 6| which are positionedto penetrate an adjoining pair of spaced apertures 41 in the main bracesB.

It is seen from the foregoing description that the adjustable dunnageapparatus may be readily accommodated to various loads and loadingconditions. Thus, as seen in Fig. l, a pair of supporting members AI andA2 may be placed in opposed positions immediately adjacent the cornersof a box car. Main braces BI are then placed at appropriate intervalsalong the length of the supporting members AI and AZ-the spacing betweenmain braces being determined principally by the height of the individualunits making up the load. A first group of elements forming the loadwill then be put into position with the back sides of the elements flushagainst the main braces BI. Supporting members A3 and A4 may then benailed lightly into position adjacent ,the forward side of the rstportion of the load, and secured in place by means of appropriatelydistributed main braces B2. In order that the main braces B2 may holdthe rst portion of the load securely in place they may be adjusted withrespect to the supporting members A3 and A4 by means of the threadedscrews 43.

Cross-arms CI, C2 and C3 may then be placed between the adjacent mainbraces BI and B2 at appropriate intervals to retain the elements formingthe rst portion of the load against lateral displacement. The cross-armsare readily put into position by inserting the pins 5| intoa suitablepair of the holes 41 in the main brace, putting suflicient pressure uponthe cross-arms to compress the springs 50, and engaging the pins 6| atthe opposite end of the cross-arm with the apertures 4l in the adjoiningmain brace B2 which are directly opposite those in the main brace Bl.

The several groups of elements making up the entire load may thus bestrongly braced against lateral or longitudinal displacement byappropriately spaced additional supporting members A, main braces B andcross-arms C.

In the modied form of dunnage apparatus illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 andl1, supporting members X are retained in place by the longitudinalthrust of main braces Y, and the cross-arms Z are disposed betweenadjacent main braces. The cross-arms Z are identical with thosedescribed for the preferred form, and thus their description will not berepeated here.

Each supporting member X consists of a plate ||6 provided on its rearsurface with a plurality of short, spaced teeth III, to engage the Wallof the car and resist longitudinal displacement of the supportingmember. The forward surface of the plate Ht` is provided with a pair ofspaced horizontal rail members IIS and a gear rack ||9 disposed betweensaid rails. The main braces Y are similar to the main braces B of thepreferred embodiment of the invention, except for the engaging elementsat the ends of the main braces which make engagement with the supportingmembers X Thus, the main braces Y are formed from a plurality oftelescoping elements |22 and |23.

Secured to the outer end of each telescoping member |23, as by screws|24, is a yoke element |25 which carries wheel spindles |25 and gearwheel spindle |21, the latter spindle having a square upper end toreceive a crank.

V Rotatably mounted at the upper end of each of the spindles |26 is aperipherally grooved roller |28 which is adapted to span the upper railIIS, and at the lower end of each spindle |25` is rotatably mounted aroller |29, positioned to bear against the lower rail VI I8. Mounted onYthe spindle 21 is agear wheel|3llwhich is 7positioned to engage theteeth rot the gear rack H9.

It willA be seen that each main brace may be put into place adjacent aportion of the load in a box car, and its engaging elements brought intothrusting engagement with the supporting members X by cranking thetelescoping members |22 and |23 to an appropriately extended position,in the same manner as was described for the main braces BJ Themainbraces Y may then be driven close against. the adjacent portion ofthe load by engaging a crank with the upper end of spindle |21 andturning, it to drive the gear wheel |30 across the rack: l I9.

In order to retain the main brace Y in the above described position,each yoke member |25 has a central vertical bore |3| above the inneredge of the gear wheel It@ and a pin |32. extending through said bore ispressed downwardly by a spring |33 confined beneath a plug cap I 34. Thelower end |35 oi the pin 32 is shaped to extend between two adjacentteeth. of the gear wheel |30 and lock it against` rotation. When thegear wheel is being turned by` the crank, the spring pressed pin may beheld out ci engagement by gripping the head thereof and drawing itupwardly against the tension of the spring |33.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. Adjustable dunnage apparatus comprising: supporting members adaptedto be temporarily secured to the inner walls of a box car in opposedpairs and bearing against structural members thereof, said membershaving inwardly facing serrated portions; main braces comprising aplurality of telescoping members and having projecting elements at theirends to engage the serrated portions of an opposed pair of supportingmembers; screw and nut means in said `main braces for effectinglongitudinal adjustment thereof to provide an outward retaining thrustagainst the supporting members tending to retain said members againstdisplacement; and cross-arms adapted to be disposed between adjacentmain braces, said cross-arms being longitudinally adjustable and havingtheir ends provided with means for engaging said main braces.

2. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 wherein the mainbraces are constructed to retain the cross-arms against lateraldisplacement.

'3. Apparatus of the character described` in claim 1 wherein the mainbraces are provided on each side with a plurality of spaced apertures,and the means on the cross-arms for engaging the main braces comprises aplurality of pins adapted to penetrate said apertures.

4. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 wherein thecross-arms comprise a plurality of telescoping members, means to preventaccidental separation of said members, and springs urging saidtelescoping members to their most extended positions.

5. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 wherein thesupporting members are normally retained in place principally by thethrust of the main braces and have wall engaging teeth on their rearsurfaces to resist lateral displacement.

6. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 wherein each mainbrace comprises an elongated metal tube andan extension membertelescopically engaging said tube; and the screw and nut means comprisesathreaded nut mounted at theV inner end of the extension member; arotatable shaft mounted transversely of the tube and adapted. to beturned by a crank, and a longitudinal. screw engaging the threaded nut,said screw being operatively connected tothe shaft.

7. Adjustable dunnage apparatus, comprising: supporting members adaptedto be temporarily secured to theV inner walls of4 a. box` car in opposedpairs and bearing against structural members thereof, said membershaving. a verticalV series of spaced pairs of inwardly facing hook-likeserraticns; main braces comprising a plurality of telescoping` membersand having a plurality of laterally projecting studs` adjacent theirends adapted to support the braces on the hook-like serrations of thesupporting members; means in said main braces for eiecting` longitudinaladjustment thereof to provide an outward retaining thrust against thesupporting members tending to retain said members against displacement;and crossarms adapted to be disposed between adjacent main braces, saidcross-arms being longitudinally adjustable and having their endsprovided with means for engaging said main braces.

8. Apparatus of the character described in claim 7 wherein each mainbrace has a threaded lateral bore adjacent each end with a threadedscrew extending therethrough, each screw having a peripherally groovedcollar adjacent one or" its ends to engage a serration on the supportingmember so that rotation of the screw will cause lateral adjustment ofthe brace in the supporting member.

9. Apparatus of the character described in claim 8 wherein each mainbrace has a vertically spindled roller projecting from each of its endsso as to permit substantial pressure of the ends of the brace againstthe supporting members without hindering its lateral adjustment.

10. A main brace for use in adjusting dunnage apparatus havingsupporting members adapted to be temporarily secured to the inner wallsof a box car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members ofthe box car, and which sup-porting members have inwardly facing serratedportions, comprising: a plurality of telescoping members; screw and nutmeans 'for effecting relative longitudinal adjustment of said memberswhereby the brace is adapted to exert a retaining thrust tending toprevent displacement of said supporting members; and projecting elementsat the ends of the brace to engage with said serrated portions.

l1. A main brace oi" the character described in claim 10 wherein meansare provided at intervals along the length of the brace for interlockingwith the ends of a cross-arm so as to retain the cross-arm againstmovement longitudinally of the brace.

l2. A main brace for use in adjustable dunnage apparatus havingsupporting member adapted` to be temporarily secured to the inner wallsof a box car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members ofa box car and which supporting members have inwardly facing serratedportions, comprising: an elongated metal tube; an extension membertelescopically engaging said tube; a threaded nut mounted at the innerend of said extension member; a rotatable shaft mounted transversely ofthe tube and adapted to be turned by a crank; a rotatable screwextending longitudinally of the tube and engaging the nut on theextension member; intermeshing members for transmitting rotary motionfrom said shaft to said screw whereby when the brace is placed betweentwo supporting members it may be elongated to exert aA retaining thrusttending to prevent displacement of said supporting members; andprojecting elements at the ends of the brace to engage said serratedportions.

13. A main brace for use in adjustable dunnage apparatus havingsupporting members adapted to be temporarily secured to the inner Wallsof a box car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members ofa box car and which supporting members have a vertical series of spacedpairs of inwardly facing hooklike serrations, comprising: a plurality oftelescoping members; screw and nut means for effecting relativelongitudinal adjustment of said members whereby when the brace is placedbetween two supporting members it may be elongated to exert a retainingthrust tending to prevent displacement of said supporting members; and aplurality of laterally extending studs adjacent each end of the braceadapted to support the brace upon the spaced pairs of hook-likeserrations of the supporting members.

14. A main brace of the character described in claim 13 wherein athreaded lateral bore is provided adjacent each end and a rotatablescrew extends therethrough, said screw having a peripherally groovedcollar adjacent one of its ends to engage a serration on the supportingmember so that rotation of the screw will cause lateral adjustment ofthe brace in the supporting member.

15. A main brace of the character described in claim 14 which has avertically spindled roller projecting from each of its ends so as topermit substantial pressure of the ends of the brace against thesupporting members without hindering said lateral adjustment.

16. A cross-arm adapted for mounting between parallel, transverselyextending main braces in adjustable dunnage apparatus of the characterdescribed, comprising: a plurality of telescoping body members; means toprevent accidental separation of said body members; springs urging saidtelescoping body members to their most extended positions; and means atthe ends of the cross-arm to engage the main braces.

17. A cross-arm of the character described in claim 16 wherein the meansto engage the main braces comprise a plurality of pins adapted topenetrate spaced apertures in the main braces.

18. Adjustable dunnage apparatus, comprising: supporting members adaptedto be'tempararily secured to the inner walls of a box car in opposedpairs and bearing against structural members thereof, each supportingmember comprising a plate having on its inner surface in spaced relationa pair of horizontal rail members and a horizontal gear rack; mainbraces comprising a plurality of telescoping members having adjustmentmeans arranged to provide longitudinal outward thrust of the main bracesagainst the supporting members tending toretain said members againstdisplacement; engaging elements at the ends of said main bracescomprising a peripherally grooved roller adapted to span one of therails on the supporting' member, a roller adapted to bear against theother rail, a gear wheel adapted to engage the gear rack, and means forlocking the gear wheel against rotation; and longitudinally adjustablecross-arms adapted to engage adjoining main braces.

19. Apparatus of the character described in claim 18 wherein the tworollers are on one spindle and the gear wheel is on a second spindleprovided with a projecting end adapted to receive a crank member, andthe means for locking the gear wheel against rotation consists of aspring-pressed pin shaped to seat between two adjacent teeth of the gearwheel.

20. A main brace for use in adjustable dunnage apparatus havingsupporting members adapted to be temporarily secured to the inner wallsof a box car in opposed pairs bearing against structural members of thebox car and in which each supporting member comprises a plate having onits inner surface in spaced relationship a pair of horizontal railmembers and a horizontal gear rack, comprising: a plurality oftelescoping members having adjust-` ment means arranged to provide anoutward longitudinal thrust of the main braces against the supportingmembers tending to retain said members against displacement; aperipherally grooved roller adapted to span one of the rails on thesupporting members; a second roller adapted to bear against the otherroller; a gear wheel adapted to engage the gear rack; and the means forlocking the gear wheel against rotation.

21. A main brace of the character describedin claim 20 wherein the tworollers are on one spindle, and the gear wheel is on a second spindleprovided with a projecting end adapted to receive a crank member, andthe means of locking the gear wheel against rotation consists of aspring-pressed pin shaped tov seat between two adjacent teeth of thegear wheel. 22. Apparatus of the character described in claim 21 whichis provided with a pair of spaced spindles each having mounted upon it aperipherally grooved roller and a second roller.

ELLIOTT DONNELLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,075,001 Bacon Oct. 7, 19131,833,016 Chandler Nov. 24, 1931 2,268,394 Hebert Dec. 30, 19412,287,852 Zyara June 30, 1942 2,354,861 Hermann Aug. 1, 1944 2,425,875Hermann Aug. 19, 1947

